PFI:AIR - TT: SIG-Blocks: Tangible Game Technology for Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation of People with Traumatic Brain Injuries

此PFI：空气技术翻译项目专注于翻译集成传感器和无线通信技术，以满足轻度创伤性脑损伤(TBI)退伍军人的认知评估和康复需求。新颖的传感器集成几何(SIG)块技术使认知评估和培训计划能够完全自主和远程管理，从而降低成本并扩大康复机会的可及性。提高可测量数据的质量和数量，以及这种以技术为基础的方法的动态性质也将导致改善康复结果。该项目将产生一个功能齐全的硬件平台(SIG-BLOCKS)的原型和用户友好的游戏软件，用于个性化认知评估和培训。SIG-BLOCKS技术具有以下独特功能：评估和培训游戏的全自动和远程(在线)管理，动态和个性化的游戏项目，以及提高可测量数据的质量和数量。这些特点将潜在地提高评估的准确性和康复的临床有效性。此外，与这一市场领域现有的认知评估和培训工具相比，更低的成本和可能的家庭培训将扩大脑外伤患者的康复机会。该项目在从研究发现转化为商业应用的过程中解决了以下技术差距：1)通过开发新的SIG块和建立在当前原型上的评估/培训游戏，缺乏可用于脑外伤患者认知评估和康复的平台技术；2)通过将视觉、声音和触觉反馈机制嵌入到技术中，在当前技术中缺乏趣味性和引人入胜的功能；3)需要改进的用户界面(UI)，以使最终用户能够通过设计图形增强的有形UI来定制测试项目或培训游戏；4)需要家庭培训，以扩大服务的可及性，并通过开发在线计划降低成本；5)需要个性化的评估/康复，通过开发能够使测试/培训计划个性化的软件工具包，最大限度地提高健康结果；以及6)缺乏临床证据，证明这种基于技术的方法的有效性，方法是与克利夫兰退伍军人医学中心合作，在脑外伤患者身上使用SIG块测试游戏。此外，参与该项目的本科生和研究生将获得独特的学习和培训经验，他们将与一个高度跨学科的团队合作，研究在工程教育中经常被忽视的有效技术翻译策略。教育活动还将包括将该项目与独特的以项目为基础的课程相结合，这些课程的重点是通过多学科的观点提高发明的影响。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating integrated sensors and wireless communication technology to fill the need for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The novel Sensor Integrated Geometric (SIG)-Blocks technology enables fully autonomous and remote administration of the cognitive assessment and training programs that will reduce the cost and broaden accessibility to rehabilitation opportunities. Improved quality and quantity of measurable data and the dynamic nature of this technology-based approach will also lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes. This project will result in a prototype of a fully functioning hardware platform (SIG-Blocks) and user-friendly game software for personalized cognitive assessment and training. The SIG-Blocks technology has the following unique features: fully automated and remote (online) administration of the assessment and training games, dynamic and personalized game items, and improved quality and quantity of measureable data. These features will potentially improve the accuracy of assessment and clinical effectiveness of rehabilitation. Further, reduced cost and possible in-home training will broaden rehabilitation opportunities for TBI patients when compared to the existing cognitive assessment and training instruments in this market space. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: 1) lack of the platform technology that can be used for both cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of TBI patients by developing the new SIG-Blocks and assessment/training games building on a current prototype; 2) lack of fun and engaging features in the current technology by embedding visual, sound, and tactile feedback mechanism into the technology; 3) need for improved user interface (UI) to enable end-users to customize the test items or training games by designing a graphically augmented tangible UI; 4) need for in-home training to broaden the accessibility to the service and reduce the cost by developing online programs; 5) need for personalized assessment/rehabilitation to maximize health outcomes by developing a software tool kit that enables personalization of test/training programs; and 6) lack of clinical evidence of the efficacy of such technology-based approach by testing the games using SIG-Blocks on TBI patients in collaboration with the Cleveland VA Medical Center. In addition, undergraduate and graduate students involved in this project will receive unique learning and training experiences by working with a highly interdisciplinary team for investigating effective strategies of technology translation that is often overlooked in engineering education. The educational activities will also include integration of this project with unique project-based courses that focus on advancing the impact of invention via multi-disciplinary perspectives.